West Wing Week: 1/27/12 or "The State of the Union Edition"

West Wing Week: 1/27/12 or "The State of the Union Edition"

Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This week, the President prepared for and delivered his State of the Union Address, welcomed the Boston Bruins to the White House, and took his message West to Iowa, Arizona, Nevada, and Colorado. That's January 20th to January 26th or "The Special State of the Union Edition of 2012."

Obama Touts Economic Plan in State of the Union Address

VOAVideo: Obama Touts Economic Plan in State of the Union Address

As he faces a tough re-election campaign, President Barack Obama devoted much of his annual State of the Union address Tuesday night to his plan to speed the U.S. economic recovery. VOA White House correspondent Kent Klein reports.

President Obama's Lunar New Year Message

President Obama's Lunar New Year Message
The President and First Lady send their best wishes to everyone celebrating the Lunar New Year. January 19, 2012.

West Wing Week: 1/20/12 or "The Time is Always Right to do What is Right"

West Wing Week: 1/20/12 or "The Time is Always Right to do What is Right"

Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This week, the President called for government reform through reorganization and a new Cabinet Position, honored Martin Luther King, Jr, welcomed the Tuskegee Airmen, the King of Jordan and the 2011 World Series Champs, and traveled to the Magic Kingdom to unveil the latest "We Can't Wait" action to aid job creation through executive action. That's January 13th to January 19th or "The time is always right to do what is right."

MLK Holiday Celebrates Late Civil Rights Leader

VOAVideo: MLK Holiday Celebrates Late Civil Rights Leader

On Monday, January 16, Americans will pay tribute to the legacy of slain civil rights leader Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. in the annual national holiday that celebrates his birthday (January 15). More than 50 years ago, King campaigned across the United States, leading non-violent marches and demonstrations for equal rights for African Americans. VOA's Chris Simkins looks back at his life and the impact his work had on the country.

USCIS 100:84. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
▪ civil rights (movement)

USCIS 100:85. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?*
▪ fought for civil rights
▪ worked for equality for all Americans

USCIS 100:100. Name two national U.S. holidays.
▪ New Year’s Day
▪ Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
▪ Presidents’ Day
▪ Memorial Day
▪ Independence Day
▪ Labor Day
▪ Columbus Day
▪ Veterans Day
▪ Thanksgiving
▪ Christmas

West Wing Week: 1/13/12 or "Insourcing: Bringing Jobs Back to America"

West Wing Week: 1/13/12 or "Insourcing: Bringing Jobs Back to America"

Election Year

VOAVideo: Election Year

Professor of Government and Foreign Service, Anthony Clark Arend and Dean of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, Carol Lancaster, and discuss the major foreign policy challenges facing the Obama administration in a crucial presidential election year with host Carol Castiel.

New Hampshire Prepares for Presidential Primary

VOAVideo: New Hampshire Prepares for Presidential Primary

In less than a week, voters in the northeastern state of New Hampshire will cast ballots in the first U.S. presidential primary, following last Tuesday's Iowa caucuses. People going to the polls in New Hampshire are looking at very different issues in deciding who should be the Republican candidate to challenge President Barack Obama in the November election. VOA's Carolyn Presutti is in New Hampshire and explains what is motivating voters.

Primary Balloting Sets Stage for Presidential Election

VOAVideo: Primary Balloting Sets Stage for Presidential Election

The political process in the United States to pick the candidates to run for president is a long one, and the next stop is the primary election in the northeastern U.S. state of New Hampshire. On January 10, the state holds the campaign's first regular primary after the opening caucuses in Iowa. In this segment of "How America Elects," VOA's Jeffrey Young explains how primary elections set the stage for the November, 2012 showdown between the Democratic and Republican parties.

West Wing Week: 1/6/12 or, "2012: The Annual Resolutions Edition"

West Wing Week: 1/6/12 or, "2012: The Annual Resolutions Edition"

Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This week, the President traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, to speak on appointing Richard Cordray to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which will protect families from predatory lenders, spoke on a comprehensive review of our defense strategy, and the White House staff shared its New Year's resolutions. That's December 30th to January 5th or "2012: The Annual Resolutions Edition."

The Iowa Caucus

VOAVideo: Republican Candidates Make Final Push in Iowa

Republican voters in Iowa will kick off the 2012 U.S. presidential election campaign Tuesday with caucus voting, the first step in choosing a candidate to run against President Barack Obama next November. The campaigning in Iowa among six Republican contenders is intense in advance of Tuesday's vote. VOA national correspondent Jim Malone reports from Polk City, Iowa.